Sustainability

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The following sustainability statement and environmental commitments were developed to evolve best practices on sustainability at the GCRTA:

GCRTA is committed to protecting the environment, as it provides public transit services to Northeast Ohio. We will provide sound business practices that integrate sustainable principles throughout every level of operation to create a healthier and livable environment for our customers and the community we serve. We will strive to provide the following environmental commitments:

Communicate and advance the use of environmental practices throughout GCRTA.

Make environmental concerns an integral part of our planning and decision-making processes and implement effective environmental programs.

Summary of Sustainable and Environmental Commitments

Energy Management

Type of Emissions

Lead

Provide energy reduction and conservation educational information to all employees.

CO2

All

Agency-wide Energy Usage and Carbon Emission Reduction

Create baselines and benchmarks of energy usage for all GCRTA departments and facilities to reduce indirect carbon emissions.

CO2

All

Agency-wide Office/Facility Equipment Use - Energy Reduction

Inventory and release data on all office and facility equipment incl. emission performance by division, department, and facility.

CO2

All

Agency-wide Office/Facility Equipment Use - Energy Reduction

Create baselines and benchmarks on energy performances for all indirect emissions related to office/facility equipment use for reduction

CO2

All

Agency-wide Office/Facility Equipment Use - Shut Down

Introduce and mandate policy for equipment shut-downs; Identify energy efficiency and safe mode functions for IS specified equipment that must stay Introduce and mandate policy for equipment shut-downs; Identify energy efficiency and safe mode functions for IS specified equipment that must stay on.

CO2

All

Bus Garage Electronic Energy Reduction

Reduce energy use by mandating that all electronics and lighting are turned off when not in use (conference rooms, break rooms, televisions, radios, electronic appliances, messages, training vending and video units, etc.)

Reduce energy use by mandating that all electronics and lighting are turned off when not in use (conference rooms, breakrooms, televisions, radios, electronic appliances, messages, training vending and video units etc.)

Reduce energy use by mandating that all electronics and lighting are turned off when not in use (conference rooms, breakrooms, televisions, radios, electronic appliances, messages, training vending and video units, etc.)

CO2

Operations

Rail Facilities Electronic Energy Reduction

Reduce energy use by mandating that all electronics and lighting are turned off when not in use (conference rooms, break rooms, televisions, radios, electronic appliances, messages, training vending and video units, etc.)

Recycling

Type of Emissions

Lead

As recycling paper contract comes to an end arrange to include this effort with our overall recycling contract to reduce transportation trips, save GHG emissions and use of multiple recovery facilities.

Minimize/reduce idling times for construction equipment to 3 minutes and no more than 5.

CO2

EPM

Equipment/Fuel Emissions

Use low fuel carbon emissions for construction equipment; use alternative fuels for generators such as propane, solar or electrical power as appropriate.

CO2

EPM

Procurement

Use locally sourced or recycled materials for construction materials as available (goal 20%) based on costs of building material (wood products should be certified as sustainable from a forestry program.)

Provide a framework for developing sustainable procedures and initiatives;

Communicate awareness to all employees stakeholders;

Develop an agency-wide culture of sustainability;

Measure and report annually on the indicators to track progress toward improved sustainability.

AREAS OF FOCUS - OBJECTIVES

Accompanying each area is a set of objectives that outline the actions necessary for achieving RTA's sustainability goals throughout our operation. Each area will have an assigned management representative who will be responsible for the implementation and annual reporting to the Office of Sustainability.

Transportation

As part of our effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, RTA will pursue the following objectives:

Avoid physically traveling to meetings where alternatives are available and practical, such as teleconferencing, video conferencing, or web cams;

Reduce the need for multiple and frequent travel to local meetings;

Reduce the use of non-revenue vehicles for short and unnecessary trips (ie., with trips less than 15 miles, employees should use public transit vs. non-revenue automobile usage as appropriate and within reason);

Identify and implement sustainable alternatives for non-revenue vehicle use where appropriate;

Purchase or lease all future company vehicles with the lowest available emission standards within their particular class;

RTA encourages sustainable modes of transportation and recognizes the need to balance the demands of pedestrians and cyclists in and around its transit centers, facilities and shelters to promote link trips. To adhere to this goal, RTA will pursue the following objectives:

Collaborate and coordinate with other community agencies and groups to encourage the use of sustainable modes of public transportation;

Employ natural storm water management procedures: impervious paving and other mitigation, corrective actions as part of our renovation and new construction facility projects;

Reduce landscape irrigation needs by planting native and drought-resistant species for all landscape and green space sites;

Invest in automatic flush mechanisms on restrooms toilets;

Invest in infrared/sonic sensors on restroom faucets;

Implement water-recycling programs to use rainwater for future landscape irrigation where possible.

Recycling

RTA will promote landfill diversion to preserve the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the following recycling objectives:

Incorporate recycling bins and containers at all operating facilities to appropriately dispose of the following:

Plastic items #1-7:

PET 01 (Soft drink, water, peanut butter and jams jars)

PE-HD 02 (Milk, juice and water bottles; trash bags)

PVC 3 (Juice bottles; PVC Piping)

PE-LD 04 (Squeezable bottles)

PP 05 reusable microwave able ware; kitchenware, yogurt containers

PS 06 Disposable cups, plates, trays, take-away containers

07 (Beverage bottles)

Other

Corrugated Cardboard

Glass

Aluminum/tin cans (Bi-metals; Aluminum foil)

Composting (food items)

Wood Palettes

Remaining Waste & refuse collection (minimum waste)

Phase out the use of virgin paper and adopt a minimum standard of 100% Post Consumer Waste (PCW) recycled content paper for all office supplies;

For uncut paper uses, including but not limited to janitorial supplies, adopt a standard of 100% PCW recycled content paper;

Recycle all electronic waste in a responsible manner and disposed of at approved regeneration or recycling facilities.

Procurement/Supplies

RTA is committed to the procurement of products and services that minimize negative environmental impacts and emphasize long-term values. The following procurement objectives will be fully developed to help RTA establish environmentally responsible purchasing and service initiatives by:

Reducing the impact of products purchased including product miles;

Consider the amount of packaging on an item before purchasing it (over packaging creates waste for the Authority);

Purchasing items in large, economy size and use concentrates mixed in reusable containers;

Avoiding the purchase of disposable products;

Purchasing durable goods and products that have a long life expectancy;

Where possible, purchase reusable products and attempt to extend the lifecycle of goods where appropriate;

Improving inventory control throughout the agency including a central supply program for certain products;

Establishing sustainable proposal policies to be added to all RFPs and IFBs (ie proposals for bids sent on 100% recyclable paper, double-sided hard copies, set maximum page limits, and with reduced number of hard copies, etc.)

Include a copy of our Sustainability Policy in all of our proposals to vendors, suppliers and consultants;

Establishing a "Green Seal Certified Products" listing as part of a procurement source registry;

Negotiating better pricing for commodities with recycled content as compares to products without recycled content;

Working toward increasing procurements of products with high recycled contents;

Include extra points under the evaluation criteria section for companies who will deliver sustainable services and products to the Authority;

Incorporating an effective end-of-life recycling program into each commodity as applicable;

Develop a program with our suppliers to establish re-use or recycling “take-backs” at no extra cost toward waste disposal (packaging, containers, etc.).

Health & Well-Being /Working Environment

RTA understands that our employees are integral components to maintaining sustainability. To ensure a high level of investment into human resources, we will pursue the following objectives:

Reduce the impact of emissions/toxins from office equipment;

Promote programs, groups and departments which support all areas of personal health and well-being including smoking cessation, weight loss, healthy eating habits, etc.;

Recognize accomplishments and achievements of our employees.

Employee Educational and Awareness

RTA recognizes its role as a sustainable organization and is committed to promoting awareness and education, as well as engaging the community in the collective responsibility to implement this policy. To adhere to this principle, we will pursue the following objectives:

Provide employees with opportunities to increase their awareness and knowledge of sustainability;

Promote leadership roles among individuals from a variety of levels that provide support toward sustainable initiatives;

Promote education, training and research across all divisions and departments;

In September 2011, two solar shelters were designed and installed by Solar Impact, Inc., as part of a joint community project with the City of Cleveland Heights. The new shelters replaced the bus shelters at the Mayfield Road-Coventry and Mayfield-Warrensville Center Road stops.

Public Art Recycling Bins:

New York, NY Artist Ignacio Ciochinni was selected by the RTA’s Arts in Transit Committee as the winner of the Public Art Recycling Bin – Call to Artist solicitation in 2010. Thirty bins were installed throughout the Red Line Rapid Transit Line, starting at Tower City in July 2011.